Topic: Distortion/Saturation?

[newplanet7]

Hey all.
Really looking for some feedback on this.
Here's a link to a 30 second file.
http://www.sendspace.com/file/91e6z6

I taped for the first time last night.
I was stage lip, din, dfc.
I ran no attentuation from the mics, which have a bass roll-off and a -10.
I also didn't run the pad on the busman 660 which is -20.

I thought I was conservative on the levels.
I had a constant -12 on the meter.
As it turns out there was distortion/saturation.

Now, I was wondering if I just needed to lower the gain or use
some attentuation from the mics or box.
There probably is no cut and dry answer but,
I figured you guys are the ones to ask.

Thanks for your time.
-todd

[JasonSobel]

just gave this a quick look/listen.
you definitely overloaded the pre-amp.  basically too hot of a signal for the pre-amp, so even though your digital levels looking fine, it was too much signal for the analog components to handle, (before the signal even got to the A/D stage).

next time out, I'd try using the -20 dB pad on the 660.  to lower the signal before it hits the pre-amp.

[bdasilva]

I forget.. is it bussman mod?? run all in the green with an occasional orange. He can fix this. see my post in "Team 660" thread.

[newplanet7]

Thanks fellas!
+t.

Quite the bummer on my end though.
Thought I was going to get a smoker.
Live and learn I guess.
-todd

EDIT TO ASK:
Would it be more effective to run the -10 from the mics or the -20 from the 660?

[boojum]

You can always add more volume.  It is the devil's own job to take it out.  Some mics I use through line-in on a really loud venue.  Another board's mic guru recommends against using pads.  He claims the distance between the noise floor and you peak becomes less that way.  I follow his advice and use low on the pre or line-in for really loud.   YMMV

[Roving Sign]

Thanks fellas!
+t.

Quite the bummer on my end though.
Thought I was going to get a smoker.
Live and learn I guess.
-todd

EDIT TO ASK:
Would it be more effective to run the -10 from the mics or the -20 from the 660?

Run the -20 on the recorder - there is a signal to noise ratio penalty for using the -10s built into the mics...

[DSatz]

Adobe Audition has a "Clip Restoration" feature (oddly located under Effects, Noise Reduction in the menu) that I've found generally does more good than harm. It may be worth trying. I didn't listen to your 30-second sample but perhaps the pain can be lessened.

--best regards

[newplanet7]

Thanks for all the responses fellas.
+t's all around.

[DSatz]

Actually I just downloaded the sound file and tried it in Adobe Audition. The results aren't good because the clipping in your sound file is asymmetrical. Whatever was overloading was doing so at one voltage when the signal was momentarily positive, and at a different (slightly higher) voltage when it was momentarily negative.

It's pretty nasty stuff--see the attached screen shot of a zoomed-in view in Sound Forge. I'm sorry that I wasn't able to make it sound better, or I would gladly have uploaded the touched-up file for you.

--best regards

[newplanet7]

Why thanks dsatz!

I'm pretty sure if I run the -20db pad on the box next time it will
be a better result.
It's recommended to run the pad on those..
+t for checking it out.
-todd